San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1887-07-28
PROHIBITION IN KANSAS vINDI.
GATED.
Gov. Martin Refutes Slanderous Asser.
tlops In Regard 10 His State.

| CAIEUs
Gov, Martin Refutes Slanderous Asser.
tlopsin Regard 10 His State.
The Associated Press, having cir
culated an infamous lie about prohi-
bition in Kansas, gave the following
truthful document from the Governor
of Kansas the same circulation;
CHICAGO. July 13.-The following
was received here to-day:
KANSAS PROSPERITY VS.. THE
SALOON INTERESTS.
STATE OF KANSAS, ExEcurIvE DEPT,
TOPEKA, July IL, 1887.
William Henry Smith, General Manager
Associated Pross
NV Dear Sir.-On the I'd OF July
instant, a special dispatch was sent
from st. Joseph, Mo-, to Chicago
paper. in which il was stated that
"the closing of saloons in Atchison,
Kan, had cut off the most profitable
source of ofrevenue, amounting to thou
sands of dollars year, and rs a re-
suit the city has not revenue to keep
going; that the police force, with the
exception of the marshall and one
policeman, had been suspended; that
the service of firemen were to be dis
pensed with, and that the gas and
electric lights were to be shut off,
This dispatch was utilized by the as-
sociated press and thus published in
all parts of the country. AS a result
I have received many letters from
different sections making inquiry as
to the truth of the statements 1T em.
bodies and have seen its alleged facts
commented on in dozens of newspa-
pers as evidences that the abolition
of saloons has reduced prosperous
city in Kansas to the verge of bank
ruptcy. Similar letters have been
received by the mayor Of Atchison
and by many other cities of Kansas.
The dispatch referred to was prompt.
ed by two motives: 1t was, first,
sent from town in Missouri for the
purpose of injuring rival city in
Kansas; and second, it was inspired
by the whisky interests and intended
to create the impression that an effici
ent city government could not be
maintained without the revenue de-
rived from saloon licenses.
The city of Atchison has been for
many years one of the most import
ant railroad and commercial centers
of Kansas. It has o population OF
about $4,000 people. If the whisky
interest could create the impression
that Atchison had been injured be-
cause saloons have been driven out OF
it, serious blow would be dealt the
temperance cause. The associated
press, in giving this false report such
wide publicity, was made the uncon-
scious agent of malicious slanderer
whose purposes were as unworthy as
his statements were untounded. l
deem it my duty to correct the false
impressions thus created, and re-
spectfully ask this letter be given as
wide publication as the dispatch
which prompted it. I am thoroughly
familiar with the condition OF the city
of Atchison, and personally know
that the statements embodied in the
st. Joseph dispatch are false and mis-.
leading. The gas, electric lights and
water supply of the city have never
been turned off; it's fire department
has been and is continuously on duty;
it's police force has been largely re-
duced, but has in the absence Of sa-
looms been ample to preserve peace
and protect the property of the citi-
zens. A local dispute concerning the
methods of taxation and involving
the adoption of a tax which has been
collected in the city Of st. Joseph for
many years past is the only founda-
ton for the malicious and untruthful
dispatch from that place. Atchison
abolished the last of its saloonsin the
fall of 1886. The whisky interest
prophesied this action would serious
ly injure the business OF the city. 1t
has had no such effect. Atchison is
more prosperous than it has been for
many years. It's wholesale trade ag-
gregated over S40,00O,0O0 in 1885
and during the first six months OF
1887 this trade has increased fully 80
per cent over that for the correspond
ing six months Of 1886. All the prin-
cipal streets Of the city are now paved.
More substantial improvements are
being made and more buildings are
being erected in Atchison this year
than during any previous year in Its
history. Ten important lines OF rail-
way center in the city and the South
ern Kansas railway has Just extended
its line 10 Atchison. The central
shops OF the Missouri Pacific road
have recently been located there. The
largest lumber yard in the west has
been established, and many other
and manufacturing in
dustries have been located there dur
ing the past six months. Better
than all, two hundred thousand dol
lars that we're formerly wasted in sa-
looms are now expended in feeding
and clothing and housing the people.
and as a result thousands OF wives
and children who we're living in Atch-
ison in poverty few yeurs ago are
nov in prosperity and cOntentnent
This ST. JOsePh dispatch l. a far